Moynagarh has a very rich cultural heritage, and it lies almost obscure now. Mediaeval literature and the oral traditions are eloquent on its past glory & grandeur, that push its antiquity several hundred years back. Situated in the vicinity of the ancient city-port of Tamralipta, the structure of this fort is unique and seems to be unparalleled. The fort proper is encircled by two concentric wide moats with hillock-like huge mounds. There had been crocodiles in the deep water, wild animals in the dense forest and ever-ready cannons in different lofty corners.
Outer moat - Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik
This fort is reminiscent of legendary king Lausen (10th Century), and the Bahubalindras of Balisita (1434) who came here in 1561-62 AD. Even today, the Hindu temples (Vaisnavas, Saivas, Shaktas), the Buddhist shrines, Mazhar-sharif of the Muslim saint Manikpir, the Mausoleum of the Mahanta are reverberated with solemn hymns & prayers of thousands of devotees of different religious faiths. Dipped in the lush green with placid water all around this picturesque environment is very much like an attractive dreamland 
Crossing the inner Moat - Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik
H. V. Bayley (Memoranda of Midnapore) 1852.
The district at the time of its cession (1760) contained many strongholds in possession of the Zemindars, which were and are to this day, dignified with the name of 'gurhs' (Forts)... Killah Mynachoura is well-known place of this kind.
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It is surrounded by two ditches, both formerly very deep and broad; filled with alligators; within its inner ditch was another defence of closely planted bamboos, so inter-twisted with each other as to be impervious to an arrow and unapproachable by the cavalry... The family of the Rajah of Mynachour is one of very long standing.... At the annual settlements which were made in those times it was customary to make presents to the principal landholders on the part of the Resident. The custom was one of the time of Nabab, when the fouzdars gave horses and khelauts with gold flowers to the Zemindars of Cossigorh, Mynachour, Midnapore & Naraianghur. The practice was interdicted by orders of Govt. in 1778.
L.S.S. O'malley (District Gazetteer, Midnapore) 1911.
An old fort, called Maynagarh, situated on the western bank of the Kasai, a little above its junction with the Kaliaghai. The fort was evidently constructed by excavating two great moats, |
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almost lakes, so that it practically stands on an island within an island... The fort was originally constructed by one of the semi-mythical heroes of Midnapore, Raja Lau Sen, in the days when the district was under the dominion of the Kings of Gaur... Pargana Sabang: It is mentioned in the 'Ain-i-Akbari' as a mahal of Sarkar Jaleswar containing a strong fort in the jungle... it belonged to the Raja of Mayna.
W.W. Hunter (Statistical Account of Bengal. Vol 3) 1876.
The family of the Raja of Mainachaura is a very old one.. like his brethren of the jungles, was not then, as now, a peaceful subject, and used to shut himself up in his fort whenever called upon to settle for his lands or to pay his revenue.
Vishnu Lokeshwara - Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik |
Jagatdhatri - Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik |
Prabhat Mukherjee (History of the Gajapati Kings of Orissa) 1981.
Ferishta's text, 'Tarikh-i-Ferishta', refers to a family of Chiefs surnamed Bhaybullunder (Bahuvalendra) - Office - in Charge of the non-combatant force.
Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik
Ratnalekha Ray (Change in Bengal Agrarian Society) 1979
Kalindiram Samanta ruled from the fort of Balisita in paragana Sabang as a feudatory of the king of Orissa. His 6th descendant, Gobardhananda captured the fort of Maina, and was rewarded with the title of 'Bahubalindra'. When the British took over the district, Jagadananda was esteemed a formidable and very rich Raja and kept a body of 3000 men at his pay. He was a great favourite at the Court in Murshidabad and scarcely paid anything. Resident of Midnapore wrote to Warren Hastings in 1773- "he has continued the extension of govt. authority (Mughals) over their jurisdiction. Bahubalindra family acted as social leader (samajpati)... Most of the ruling lineages were founded by Generals... no doubt that they had originally formed a military class (Khandait) in the service of the king of Orissa... Rajas of Kasijora & Mainachoura, these older magnates whose zamindaries were brought under the hammer of the Parmanent Settlement.
Chitta Panda ( The Decline of the Bengal Zamindars ) 1996.
The entire area of over 5000 Sq. miles (Midnapore district) was divided among a dozen hereditary Zamindars.... James Grant report listed eight such families (16th Century origin ) who commanded respect, and used to pay enormous amount of revenue. Apart from these there were approximate 3000 Small Zamindars and Talukdars before the decennial settlement: Kasijora, Midnapore, Jalamutha, Majnamutha, Mahisadal, Mainachura, Tamluk, Sujmutha... The need to collect land revenue, however proved dicisive: " .... Seized and insolent behaviour... He shall be wholly dispossessed of his Zamindary and further for the sake of public example... " (Midnapore District Records, Vol 3, Letter 96). ... Regulations of 1793 ... it weakened not only the hereditary character but also the customary rule of primogeniture among the great families. |
